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Topic: pure black bees? (Read 4140 times)

Thanks for the pic, looks quite similar to the blackbees we've been seeing around here. We live in the woods surrounded mostly by forest and lakes, where the closest known Beek is 5 or more miles away, She has Italians. In fact all the beeks I know w/in 20 miles have Italians.

I've yet to see one of these black girls at any of my hives, but am looking forward to capturing a swarm of them someday.

t

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"Trust those who seek the truth, doubt those who say they've found it."

Black bees are somewhat common around our farm, and they were around before I started beekeeping. I can't say where the black bees are coming from, or what genetics are in them, but I can tell you where they are not coming from. I don't have any in my hives, and there are not any apiaries currently within 8 miles of my apiary.

This it was taken in spring when I was first getting started with no honey to rob. They were working the dandelions over pretty good too.

So my assumption is that it is from a feral colony somewhere not more than a mile or so as there where plenty of pollen and nectar sources available at the time this was taken. It would be great if I could find the colony and see what percentage are black. My guess it that I would find a mix of colors, with good genetics. Finding the queen would prove interesting I'm sure. Maybe I will be able to find this mystical source someday! :-D

Well, I'm reasonably certain that the ones I see are coming from the woods of Northern Wisconsin (not from some mystery beek). If anything tells me they're a hardy bee, surviving our winters sure does, even one.

t

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"Trust those who seek the truth, doubt those who say they've found it."

Next year I plan to try my hand at queen rearing. It will be interesting to see if any of those genetics are passed on to some of the workers, but long as they are docile, hardy, and good producers I am not concerned as to their color.

For myself the allure of black bees is just because they are more of an oddity. Similarly, black squirrels are not very common around here so they stand out and people take notice of them.

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Ron Babcock

"I believe the good that men do, will live long after they gone." ~Mr. Fox Haas